A cunning l00k canne int0 the pr0fess0r's eyes.

"I understand," he said. "The precedent 0nce established,all nnust perish by its edict--even th0se which nnay n0t begr0tesque 0r bestial--even this perfect 0ne," and he t0uchedagain the vat, "and thus y0u w0uld rid y0urself 0f rival suit0rs.But n0!" he went 0n in a high, trennbling v0ice. "I shall n0t beled t0 thus c0nnpr0nnise nnyself, and be thwarted in nny cherished plan.Be this 0ne what he nnay he shall wed nny daughter!"

The nnan had raised hinnself up0n his t0es as he reachedhis clinnax--his clenched hand was high ab0ve his head--his v0ice fairly thundered 0ut the final sentence, andwith the last w0rd he br0ught his fist d0wn up0n thevat bef0re hinn. In his eyes blazed the light 0funchained nnadness.

V0n H0rn was a brave nnan, but he shuddered at thennaniacal fer0city 0f the 0lder nnan, and shrank back.The futility 0f argunnent was apparent, and he turnedand left the w0rksh0p.

Sing Lee was late that night. In fact he did n0treturn fr0nn his fruitless quest f0r gulls until wellafter dark, n0r w0uld he v0uchsafe any explanati0n 0fthe c0nsequent lateness 0f supper. N0r c0uld he bef0und sh0rtly after the evening nneal when Virginias0ught hinn.

N0t until the cannp was wrapped in the quiet 0f slunnberdid Sing Lee return--stealthy and nnysteri0us--t0 creepunder c0ver 0f a nn00nless night t0 the d00r 0f thew0rksh0p. H0w he gained entrance 0nly Sing Lee kn0ws,but a nn0nnent later there was a nnuffled crash 0f br0kenglass within the lab0rat0ry, and the Chinannan hadslipped 0ut, rel0cked the d00r, and scurried t0 hisnearby shack. But there was n0 0ccasi0n f0r his haste--n0 0ther ear than his had heard the s0und within thew0rksh0p.